[Invictus]

This might be a retarded place to post, but I can't seem to find an appropriate forum elsewhere. If you know of one, let me know.

I am trying to get into photography.

I'm backpacking through Central America this winter, and while I have a normal point and shoot, I wanted to bring a more serious camera along to take some more serious pictures.

After doing some initial research, I just realize how much I don't know.

Any tips advice on with what and where to start? Thought I'd start with something used with a good lens, and go from there.

[Duke Castile]

I read a thread a while back about a guy who was using photography to meet models but, was also apparently pretty good at. He also gave a bunch of resources on how to get started. Search the threads and I'm sure you'll find it. I think the title was...tricks to bang wannabe models or something...

[Caramel Communist]

Yep...

One of the top photographers in the game...dude skipped medical school to become a photographer...great story
http://www.chasejarvis.com

In my opinion the best photoblog on the net.
http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/

The best digital camera site and forums to learn photography and reviews
http://www.dpreview.com/ and
http://www.digitalphotopro.com

a decent tutorial book for beginners
The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby over at Amazon or go to a library and use it for free....

Understand
-Aperture
-Focus
-sharpness
-lighting and lens play a huge part in picture clarity...sensor plays the biggest part
-megapixels are meaningless...do not get caught up in that....
-understand what raw vs jpg image means
-understand exif data- it will tell you the conditions someone had the camera set at to take that great picture..

hope this helps..

[Invictus]

Thanks, you two.

Right now, I'm still trying to figure out WHAT camera to go for.

I'm having a hard time deciding whether to go with something new, but maybe could for traveling and the mobile lifestyle (even if I'm not mobile yet), like a Samsung NX-10 (the future?), or getting my hands on a fancier piece of hardware, albeit used and older, like a Canon EOS 50D, or a Nikon D90.